As a business owner who will celebrate 10 years in Rockville Centre next month, I have seen many changes in the village over that period.

Parking was, and always will be, a contentious topic here in Rockville Centre. The current mayor has made great strides in that area, capping the meters at 6 p.m. and now giving us the month of December that, in the parking lots, will be free after 11 a.m. That is greatly appreciated.

The new proposal that will institute a muni-meter system, and also raise the rates, is a mistake. It will drive more retail business away. People have enough issues with parking here. This will add another step, more fees and more outrage. Retail business is not increasing in the village, so we need more incentives for retail to succeed.

A village-wide, late-night shopping day or more grant money to help beautify the downtown area of the village are two ideas. Another idea to raise revenue is to keep the meters and rates the same, but extend the parking meter time until 7 p.m. The extra hour might make up for the proposed increase in rates. Lynbrook just updated their parking meters to give shoppers five more minutes for free, just by pushing a button on the meter. This good will encourages more people to stay and shop in their village. That kind of thinking is what we need more of here in RVC!

Bruce Mirkin

Accent on Eyes

In defense of the Tea Party

To the Editor:

I was disappointed to read the letter in last week’s Herald from Rockville Centre resident Frank Gordon regarding the RVC Tea Party Patriots participating in the St. Patrick’s Parade (“No politics at the parade”). His comment that we were an “…obstructionist group with a political agenda” is nonsense.